Tan, who works at one of the big four consulting groups in Malaysia, said he caught the travel bug when he was studying in the United Kingdom (UK).
He said it used to be a bit easier for him to travel around the European countries.
“That was five years ago. Currency played a big part. The pound sterling has always been stable and so it was easier to travel around the neighbouring countries,” he told FMT.
When he came back to Malaysia, Tan found it harder to travel because of the Malaysian currency.
“So what I did was do a lot of comparisons online. I don’t have time to go to travel agencies and ask them myself.”
For Amanina Razlan, 21, who is still doing her degree, she had to find ways to fulfil her travelling urge because of her tight budget.
“I had to be smart at doing it. I usually do a survey of the tickets and best places to go to. They must be both cheap and worthwhile.
“I also don’t go on a shopping spree when I travel. I travel light and don’t want to lug shopping bags to the airport.
“Obvious isn’t it? I guess most people my age prefer the experience rather than forking out money to buy things when we travel.
“For me it’s more about sharing in the lives of the people there,” she told FMT.
Amanina has travelled to 35 countries, including Brazil, the US and Russia, to name a few.
Millennials value experiences
Both Amanina and Tan fall under the category of millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996.
Millennials are said to value experiences over ownership of things. And this is one of the main reasons millennials go travelling.
According to United Nations (UN) data, this category of people generate more than US$180 billion (RM770 billion) in annual tourism revenue.
Easy access to social media and budget travel platforms is making the world more connected for millennials.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) said the greatest concentration of millennials was in Asia. This is based on a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
Matta vice-president of research and technology Faeez Fadhillah said it was this next generation that was going to shape the future of travel within the next decade.
“The next big thing in travel would be personalisation of travel and products, making them more localised, more tailored and predictive.
“And millennials will be the driving force demanding that the travel industry delivers these needs,” he said.
Faeez, who is also chief executive officer for Tripfez, a halal-friendly online travel agency, said millennials were the first digitally native generation and were highly active on social media.
“Based on research presented during the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) Youth Symposium earlier in May, 67% of millennials posted photos, videos and moments on social media.
“Connectivity is very important for millennials, with 78% thinking that WiFi and roaming connectivity is essential.”
Expedia Malaysia Destination manager Kamil Darman seems to agree as he said millennials used technology at an early age and continued to do so growing up.
“They are dependent on going online to get all the information they want.
“So, it only comes naturally for millennials to use online websites to compare hotel prices, availability and other matters,” he told FMT.
Kamil said easy access to everything and time was also the catalyst to millennials’ behaviour.
“Millennials like to do things faster. So, they shop online, get the quotes and secure the bookings.
“If they find another good deal, they will always cancel the reservation without charge,” added Kamil.
This is the case with Tan who usually plans his travelling on the fly and likes to book budget hotels.
“I will usually buy the flight tickets first. And maybe two weeks prior to my travelling to a country, I would reserve a bed for myself.
“I will look for those with no fee charged up until 24 hours upon arrival so I could cancel anytime I want,” he said.
Hotels, hostels and brands
Information such as price is very important and there is little to no brand loyalty among millennials when choosing their flights or accommodation.
Faeez said price does play its part.
“At least 76% think that price is an important decision when making a booking.
“But it’s not price alone that matters. It does not necessarily have to be the cheapest available, but more best value for money.”
On the same note, Kamil said millennials were smart bookers, based on the methods they use to get the best deals in town.
“They will compare with every available website out there to get a good deal. They are also the group that will download apps if it means making savings on their travelling plans.”
This is somewhat true as Amanina will go to great lengths to get the best deals in town.
“I will download certain apps that sometimes offer promo rates just to get on the flight that I want with the rate that I want. After that, I will delete the app.”
Kamil said millennials were also very cautious with what was included in the travel package as they relied on reviews and ratings when making their travel decisions.
“For example, the price of a room night could be cheaper on platform E vs A, but platform E may not have a cancellation policy. So, millennials will take all this into consideration when making a choice.”
In today’s digital age, travel is not viewed as a luxury but instead a necessity.
With pictures of exotic destinations and adventurous excursions flooding the social feeds of millennials, it is no surprise that travel has become a top priority for this generation.
“Like when I went to Machu Pichu, I did not go there and bring the whole suitcase with me.
“I just sat on top of one of the corners. Closed my eyes and took long breaths. I was thinking I am very blessed to be here and experience nature’s creation,” said Tan.
“Some people would say travelling is for people with deep pockets. I am still a student and I can travel with just RM700 for a whole week in Australia.
“You just need to plan your finances and be smart in making these bookings. I will never stop travelling,” said Amanina.
Spending money on experiences
The “experience economy”, a term deemed by businesses to create memorable events for their customers, is consuming the travel industry.
You have 72% of millennials choosing to spend more money on experiences than material items, according to data by US-based travel agency, Blueboard.
While baby boomers tend to seek the safety and convenience of an overcrowded touristy restaurant near a major attraction, millennials are taking a step outside their comfort zone to experience that sought-after authentic meal.
“Millennials are also the group that is brave to give opinions and be bold to challenge the status quo.
“And I do like to think all this stems from their early development that observes how things change and how to respond to these changes,” added Kamil.